Heavyweight Stars Set to Share the Same Card on December 23 in Saudi Arabia

Deontay Wilder has made a bold statement about his rival Anthony Joshua, claiming that he sensed "fear" when they came face to face. The two heavyweight stars are set to share the same card on December 23 in Saudi Arabia, although they will be competing in separate bouts.

Intense Press Conference Sees Joshua Refusing to Call Out Wilder

The recent press conference to announce the pay-per-view card saw Joshua, 34, refusing to call out his American rival. This decision did not go unnoticed by Wilder, 38, who discussed it on The Last Stand podcast.

Wilder Speaks Out on Joshua's Fear and His Own Dominance

Speaking on the podcast, Wilder expressed his belief that Joshua avoids mentioning him due to fear. He stated, "Every time my name comes up he goes the other way. And it's always been like this for almost a decade now. It's been like that because of the fear that Joshua has towards me."

Wilder also highlighted his dominance in the ring, saying, "The proof is in the pudding and I've displayed this over and over and over again. It's a thing that I understand but I don't understand, you see something that can potentially happen and this man shows it over and over again. I understand that part but this is the hurt business, this is what we signed up for bro, to be warriors."

Upcoming Bouts for Joshua and Wilder

Joshua is set to face Swedish southpaw Otto Wallin, 32, in his upcoming bout. Wallin is known for giving Tyson Fury 47 stitches in their 2019 match. Meanwhile, Wilder will be taking on former WBO champion Joseph Parker, 31, who is also a training partner of Tyson Fury.

Potential Blockbuster Showdown in 2024

If Joshua and Wilder emerge victorious in their respective bouts, they are expected to face each other in a much-anticipated blockbuster fight in 2024. However, Wilder made it clear that his main focus right now is on his upcoming fight with Parker. He said, "I've got to get past Joseph Parker first and then we will talk about the future plans after that."